My Frugal Miser - June 2024 Income

June will be the last "amazing" month for income at least for a bit.  My work in the meeting industry slows dramatically in July and August.  I specialize in corporate events and there tends to be fewer of them when kids are out of school.  In June I worked meetings 22 out of 30 days.  When I wasn't working meetings, I did a few Amazon routes.  I received rental income from both Alabama properties as well as a small monthly distribution from Open Door Capital.  

June Income: $11,320

$6,075 Meeting Jobs
$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$614 Amazon Deliveries

$2,162 Rental Income (Rental Expenses: $364)
$2,470 Interest Income

$0 Other Sources

Investment Accounts Change in Value:  ($3,614)

My investments took a turn and lost value in June.

My Frugal Miser - June 2024 Expenses

 June was one of the more expensive months.  Two irregular expenses made up the bulk of my spending.

• I paid $2,100 in quarterly taxes
• I prepaid $600 towards the water bill.  The utility doesn't charge a fee for using a credit card and I needed to manufacture spending to reach a bonus offer on one of my cards.
• I went to see my reflexologist as I was having severe foot pain early in the month.
• Because we both traveled for work last month, we used the cat sitter multiple times.
• I paid the $250 annual fee for the United Quest Card.

Fun

We love adventures.  Spending on experiences makes us better humans.  

• I prepaid for a rental car ($93) to visit my mom in July.
• I bought tickets to see Kid Laroi, AJR, and The Lion King.
• I purchased two winery tours for our Asheville trip.
• I lost $400 at the casino.

June Expenses:  $4,658

$107 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$193 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$280 Clothing/ Personal Care

$996 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)

$152 Food

$46 Health and Dental

$81 Household/Home Repairs

$8 Unreimbursed Job Expense

($642) Reimbursed Job Expense income this month

$0 Interest Expense

$128 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)

$2,100 Taxes

$844 Utilities 

Making Progress Towards My Goals - May 2024 Update

I experienced another month of substantial earnings in May.

Financial

My goal this year is to invest 40% of my gross income from meeting work - 30% to index funds and 10% to something more aggressive.  In May I moved 40% of my meeting income to investment accounts.

In May, I earned $7,192 from meeting work.   I transferred $800 to the brokerage account where I make more aggressive investments followed by $1,200 for the June amount (why not get ahead!?!) and $2,500 to my other brokerage account as well as $2,500 for June. 

I purchased shares of the Vanguard Total World Stock Index Admiral Fund for the 30%.  For the "more aggressive" investment, I added to a PUT option on Beyond Meat.  When the meme gamblers started buying up zombie stocks again in May, I decided to add to a PUT option against Gamestop as well.

In addition to these investments, I made a $1,000 contribution to my ROTH IRA in May.

*This will not match what I report in my income blog as payments aren't always received in the month the work was performed.

Health

I'm doing well meeting my exercise goals by exercising at least 5x/week.  

Simplify

I canceled the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card and the $95 annual fee was refunded.  

Have Fun, on a Budget

Finally, a vacation.  I booked some travel for July.  I will visit my mom in Richmond, and then meet my partner in Charlotte.  We will drive to Asheville and spend 5 days there.  This is the first vacation we've taken this year other than a two night Margaritaville cruise we took in January.  Since I redeemed points and miles, this should be a relatively frugal vacation.

My Frugal Miser - May 2024 Income

May marks another stellar month for income.  I worked meetings 19 out of 31 days.  I was able to do several Amazon routes, but the pay is extremely low compared to meeting work.  I received rental income from both Alabama properties as well as two Realty Mogul distributions and a small monthly distribution from Open Door Capital.  

May Income: $14,526

$7,192 Meeting Jobs
$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$580 Amazon Deliveries

$4,310 Rental Income (Rental Expenses:  $5,948 income this month)
$2,438 Interest Income

$6 Other Sources

Investment Accounts Change in Value:  $438

My investments have steadily increased in value.